1proudmama

I have had 2 infections. The first was about 10 days after surgery. The incision started oooozzzing. The 2nd was about 5 months after surgery. The port area became very red and swollen and was hot to touch. It was not painful. I would call your surgeon now and tell him your symptoms. He can easily prescribe an antibiotic over the phone.

I have not had a new port put in. I planned to have surgery during the summer and 2 days before surgery, the infection started drying up. I stayed on antibiotics all summer and so far the infection has not come back. My infectious disease doctor said he would not recommend having it adjusted. Poking the port with a needle might cause the infection to come back. I sometimes think about having another port put in on the other side so I can start all over again. But the thought of 2 surgeries scares me too much. I sometimes think I'd rather be fat than go through surgery again twice. I also don't know if the band will work for me. I am a total food addict. Even with the band I still eat. I was banded exactly 1 year ago this month, and I have only lost about 25 lbs. I joke with my mom and husband that I'm probably the only person that had weight loss surgery and I'm still fat. Anyway, some days I want to try again with a new port and other days I just want to have this thing taken out of me.

How long of a time was there between when the first port was taken out and the 2nd put in? My doc said (when we thought the port had to come out), he would put a new port on the other side of my stomache about 2 months after the 1st one came out.

I replied to a post a few weeks ago about a port site infection. I'm very new here, so I don't know who left the original post. My port was also infected. Luckily the infection did not spread. After 2 months of antibiotics, I decided last week to have the port taken out and in a few months have a new one put in. I spoke to my doc on Friday and scheduled surgery for Wednesday (5/23). On Saturday I noticed it was not oozing as much and on Sunday there was no puss and it was drying up. I called him immediately on Monday and he said there was not need for surgery at this time. I saw him on Tuesday and he said there could have just been Fluid built up around the port that was infected. He said the infection could still come back especially after I stop taking the antibiotics. I am still on antibiotics (doxycycln) and will see my infectious disease doc next week. I'm hoping the problem is gone for good and I can now start to concentrate on my weight loss. He wants the port to calm down and the infection to be gone for a while before my doc will adjust the band. On the original post I read your doc didn't want to take your band out. You have every right to have it taken out if that is what you want!! I told my doc I was undecided if I wanted the entire band out or if I wanted to try another port. He gave me encouraging words as to why he thinks I should try for another port, but also said the decision is mine and if I want the band out, he will take it out. If your doc does not listen to you, find another doctor!!

i hate to tell you this, but that is exactly how my infection started and now the port needs to come out. definately contact your surgeon!!

I also have a port infection. I had my surgery on 11/10/06. It first got infected 2 weeks after surgery but antibiotics cleared it up (so we thought). About 6 weeks ago the port was hurting me whenever I touched it and it was swolen and red. Luckily it is not a staff infection. They have been trying to treat it with antibiotics, but it will not dry up. The antibiotic (doxycycln) has only stopped it from spreading. I had an EGP today to make sure the band did not erode into my stomache and it is still in place. The port needs to come out. Like you, I'm undecided if I want to chance putting another one in. Right now I'm leaning toward trying a 2nd port, but that could change by the time I see the surgeon next week.